The 9/11 Files: From Tragedy to Tyranny | Ep 5 (Part 5 of 5)

Kristen Breitweiser—a 9/11 widow turned activist—and John Kiriakou—the CIA whistleblower who exposed the government’s secret torture program- reveal how the 9/11 Commission helped Bush win reelection, expanded government spying, and gave the CIA cover for brutal torture—all while officials cashed in and the public paid the price.

We’ve centralized all the evidence, key players, and timeline into this Watch Companion: www.tuckercarlson.com/the-911-files-watch-companion-ep-5.

In the aftermath of 9/11, the attacks created a divide between “winners” and “losers.” While civilians, service members, and the global population suffered, certain political and intelligence figures exploited the crisis for career advancement, personal gain, and institutional power. The episode highlights how U.S. policies post-9/11 reshaped national security, civil liberties, and global politics for the worse, and allowed those whose failures were responsible for 9/11 to gain in power, authority, and wealth. Part five of our series, The 9/11 Files: From Tragedy to Tyranny, outlines it all.

Key Figures to Reference
Key figure image for Kristen Breitweiser
Kristen Breitweiser
9/11 widow and activist (2001-present). A prominent critic of the 9/11 Commission, Breitweiser emphasized that the attacks were preventable with the information the government already had.

Key figure image for John Kiriakou
John Kiriakou
Former CIA counterintelligence officer (1990-2004), chief of counterterrorism operations (2001-2002). Kiriakou blew the whistle on the CIA’s torture program in an interview with ABC News. Despite being initially cleared of any wrongdoing, Kiriakou was later prosecuted by the Obama administration, at the behest of future Russiagate hoaxer John Brennan, for blowing the whistle on the use of torture after 9/11.

Key figure image for Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Longest serving Prime Minister of Israel (1996-1999, 2009-2021, 2022-Present). Netanyahu commented that the attack was “very good” the day after 9/11, as he believed that the attack would lead to greater U.S. sympathy for Israel. Netanyahu advocated for regime change in Iraq ahead of the Iraq War, and more recently took credit for the overthrow of Syria’s secular president, Bashar al-Assad, and the rise to power in Syria of a former leader of Al Qaeda, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, in 2024. Netanyahu currently favors U.S. action against Iran.

Key figure image for Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
National Security Advisor (2001–2005). Despite her failure to prevent the attack, Rice was later rewarded by the Bush administration and elevated to the position of Secretary of State in 2006. Upon leaving Washington, she secured an elite job in academia.

Key figure image for George Tenet
George Tenet
Former CIA Director (1996-2004). Despite presiding over the worst intelligence failure in U.S. history, Tenet received additional authority and resources post-9/11. Tenet was also one of the chief architects of the lies about WMDs that led to the Iraq War.

Key figure image for John Brennan
John Brennan
The CIA’s Riyadh station chief (1996-2001), chief of staff to CIA Director George Tenet (2001-2005), and CIA Director under President Obama (2009-2013). Brennan was involved in many of the CIA’s operational failures concerning Al Qaeda. As CIA Director under Obama, he engaged in retaliation against whistleblowers and orchestrated the Russiagate hoax.

Key figure image for Cofer Black
Cofer Black
Director of the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center (1999-2002). He kept his job despite failing to prevent 9/11 and played a major role in the development of the CIA’s torture program. He later became a defense contractor and was on the board of Burisma with Hunter Biden.

Key figure image for Paul Wolfowitz
Paul Wolfowitz
Deputy Secretary of Defense (2001-2005). A prominent neoconservative and an early advocate of regime change in Iraq, Wolfowitz was later named the World Bank president before resigning in disgrace due to having used his position to promote his girlfriend, another World Bank employee.

Key figure image for Philip Zelikow
Philip Zelikow
Executive Director of the 9/11 Commission (2003-2004). A close associate of Condoleezza Rice, he ensured the White House had direct control over the commission’s findings. He avoided accountability for the failures of the commission and later served in government advisory roles.

Timeline of Events
Sep 11, 2001
9/11 Attacks
2,977 civilians are killed in the attacks. In the aftermath of the attacks, the Bush administration soars in popularity and begins the “Global War on Terror.”

Late 2001 – Early 2002
Guantanamo Bay Prison Opened; Secret Black Sites Established by the CIA
The government opens a prison in the U.S. Naval base in Cuba to hold those captured in the new Global War on Terror, as well as new CIA “black sites” in various countries to interrogate and torture prisoners.

Jan 2002
Kiriakou Appointed CIA Counterterrorism Chief in Pakistan
The CIA begins to conduct raids of terrorist safehouses in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Due to a lack of space to hold detainees, the government sends the detainees to Guantanamo Bay.

2002
DOJ “Torture Memo” Issued
The Department of Justice promulgates a memorandum enabling the use of torture of detainees captured in the Global War on Terror.

March 2003
U.S. Invades Iraq
Based on false claims that Iraq possessed “Weapons of Mass Destruction,” the Bush administration invades Iraq.

2005
Condoleezza Rice becomes Secretary of State
Despite having failed to protect the security of the nation as National Security Advisor, with 9/11 occurring on her watch, Rice receives a promotion from the Bush administration, becoming Secretary of State.

2004
George Tenet retires from the CIA
Despite having neglected warnings of Al Qaeda before 9/11, CIA Director George Tenet retires peacefully. Rather than facing criticism or investigation for his role in the tragedy, he receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as numerous corporate and academic positions.

Dec 10, 2007
John Kiriakou blows whistle on CIA torture
Former CIA agent John Kiriakou tells ABC News about the CIA’s torture program. He is initially cleared in an investigation.

2009–2015
John Brennan Runs the CIA Under Obama
The budget and influence of the CIA increases, as the agency becomes involved in more scandals, such as spying on the staffers of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Brennan also convinces the DOJ to charge Kiriakou with espionage for exposing the CIA’s torture program. Kiriakou is denied whistleblower protection and sentenced to 30 months in prison.

2001–Present
Long-Term Aftermath
The U.S. government spends ~$7 trillion on the wars in the Middle East, leading to ~5M civilian deaths abroad and thousands of U.S. casualties. The intelligence community & political establishment thrives as the Middle East and Middle America falls apart.

Sources Cited
Government Accountability Office Report on the FBI - Report from the government detailing the changes made to the FBI following the 9/11 attacks, including a reduction in the FBI’s crime-fighting and anti-drug abilities, and a shift towards “counterterrorism” and counterintelligence work.

Report on the prosecution of John Kiriakou by the government - This report, by the Government Accountability Project, an NGO dedicated to the protection of whistleblowers, details the prosecution of former CIA agent and whistleblower John Kiriakou by the Obama administration.

Tucker Interview with John Kiriakou - Tucker Carlson interviewed former CIA agent and whistleblower John Kiriakou about the retaliation against him by the government in response to his disclosure of the CIA’s torture program.

Tucker Carlson Network (Mirror)
* FAIR USE is Assumed and in Favor of Education